Adult Protection Services

Adult Protection Services

Vulnerable Adults

Identifying who is a Vulnerable Adult (VA) and what is maltreatment can be challenging for many different reasons. The following information may assist you in understanding vulnerable adult maltreatment reporting.

Contact: If you suspect maltreatment of a Vulnerable Adult in Otter Tail County, contact the toll free MN Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) hotline at 1-844-880-1574. The phone line is intended for use by the general public, and is staffed 24 hours a day/7 days a week. If your situation is an emergency, call 9-1-1 to reach your local law enforcement agency.

Who is a Vulnerable Adult?

Categorical Vulnerable Adult: ◦ Any person 18 years of age or older who is a: ◦ Resident or inpatient of a facility, regulated by the State of Minnesota, or ◦ Receives services from a facility, regulated by the State of Minnesota, or ◦ Recipient of home care services regulated by the State of Minnesota.

Functional Vulnerable Adult: ◦ A person 18 years of age or older who, regardless of residence or services, has an impairment or disability and because of this impairment has: ◦ An impaired ability to meet basic needs without assistance, including the provision of food, shelter, clothing, health care, or supervision, and ◦ An impaired ability to protect self from maltreatment.

Neglect: ◦ Failure or omission to provide for basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision ◦ Absence of care or services essential to maintain health and safety ◦ Neglect may be by caregiver or self neglect

Financial Exploitation: ◦ Person has fiduciary relationship: guardian/conservator/power of attorney/joint account/contract/documented consent/etc. and there is unauthorized expenditure of funds or failure to use funds for VA and resulting or likely to result in detriment to VA. ◦ Person has no fiduciary relationship and: -Willfully uses / withholds/disposes of funds/property of VA -Obtains for self or another services to the detriment of the VA -Acquires possession / control / interest in VA’s property / funds through harassment / undue influence / duress / deception / fraud and -Forces / compels / coerces / entices VA to perform services for another’s advantage.